Buildings, not even a quarter of a mile away, had completely disappeared from view! (This picture was also taken in broad daylight.  (!!!!))

      The following three pictures were taken on the 12th of August (2004).  They show the development of a plume of smoke, somewhere out on the Tanana Flats.  These pictures follow one another in time, about two hours apart.

      You'll note that the smoke had cleared up, some---ahhhh, blessed relief.  However, all was not over. . . .

      -And finally, here was a picture taken on the 18th of August.

      This is hard to even imagine---but this is the view over Fairbanks from the Yukon Drive Viewpoint on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.  (For comparison, on a clear day, one can sometimes see Denali/Mt. McKinley---over 150 miles away. . . .) On this day, the only thing visible beyond some near trees, is a little bit of a field--and a crane one can just make out, suspended, floating above the haze. . . .

      The crane was part of the construction of a roundabout on lower campus.  At the time, I thought it [the construction of the roundabout] positively silly; however, I have subsequently been forced to admit that it was a very, very good idea. . . .

      The 2004 forest fire season was the worst EVER.  Something like 7.95 MILLION acres were consumed.  If all the burned areas were amassed, and given "statehood," it would've been the 44th largest STATE (!!)---larger than the entire state of New Jersey.  (!!!!)

      Worth mentioning, is that--while this comprised the worst fire disaster the Americas have ever seen--there was virually no mention of it by the fascist mind control machine---er . . . I mean, the consolidated national press.  However, while we're on the subject of fascist mind control machines, the damage to Alaska's tourism trade was SOO severe, that the United States Government sent Federal Aid.  Some of this aid even "trickled down" to private hands.  -I find this positively EXTRAORDINARY--as Alaska is virtually always a kleptocracy extraordinaire.

      The forest fires were positively HORRENDOUS--beyond description---almost beyond imagination.  After a while, there was suddenly NO information to be found anywhere on air quality (or lack thereof :P ), etc.---as the air was positively lethal, and there was no way (or perhaps even any "where") to evacuate.  I clearly remember a lifelong resident coming into the office, and asking--maybe only partially facetiously--"Now why do I live here?"

      Oh---about the title: No, I most certainly do *NOT* think that these fires were part of the "notable events of the Endtimes." -So just why did you put that up there, then, John? Well, I wanted to instill some kind of measure of JUST HOW BAD these fires were---and, perhaps, to instill some idea . . . of just how *TERRIBLE* the Endtimes will be.  There is a quote--somewhere (I can't find it. . . .)--about how, "Unless that time were shortened, no flesh would survive. . . ." -And I'm worried about getting my thesis completed! ( :) )

      Well, I hope you "enjoyed" this little sojourn through the worst fire disaster of both North and South America.  -And just a few weeks ago, it was a paltry -61 degrees Fahrenheit (~-52 C).  -So, who wants to come visit?